Bitchu Aoe Naginatanaoshi  Katana

An o-suriage naginatanaoshi katana attributed to Bitchu Aoe Nagatsugu.  Hawatare:  2 shaku 1 sun 5 bu (65.15 cm.  25.65").  Motohab: 2.87 cm. Kasane at mune: 4.4. mm.  Kasane at shinogi: 7.1 mm.  Suguba ko midare, ko gunome, small ashi, fine kinsuji and hataraki, ko nie deki.  The jigane is itame nagare there is ji nie, and dan utsure.  There is an area of shimiru one one side.  Recent Japanese polish, mounted in shrasaya with silver foil habaki.  NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho kanteisho from 1961.  Accompanying koshirae:  Samenori saya with horn kaeri zuno, black ribbing near throat.  Early Edo heianjo tsuba, brass flowers and vines on iron.  Yanagawa Naomistu fuci-kashira peonies and rock design.  Silver Goto Mino menuki of flowers and bugs.  

There was an Aoe Nagatsugu active around Enji (1275 - 1278), another active around Showa (1312-1317), and another around Bunna (1352-1356).  Nihonto Meikan rates the Showa smith with a double circle, and he is valued at 7,000,000 yen with a sharpness rating of Ryowazamono in Toko Taikan by Tokuno.  I have reevaluated my estimation of age,  and believe this is a production of Kamakura jidai.